White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Friday that the White House isn't focused on bracing for the conclusion of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, despite reporting which suggests Attorney General Bill Barr is preparing to announce the completion of the investigation as early as next week.

An unprecedented lack of consensus among the guilds representing actors, directors, writers and producers has flummoxed Oscar prognosticators, with more genuine uncertainty surrounding the best picture race than is usually the case this close to Sunday's ceremony.